PEORIA — The impending construction project at Main and University streets is going to entail more than just renovating that intersection.

It's also going to involve closing it for about six weeks, beginning in late March or early April. But Chuck Grayeb believes the wait will be worthwhile.

"There will be some fine-tuning that will have to be done, but I think it'll be revolutionary and something unique to Peoria," the 2nd District City Council representative said Wednesday night. "It's much overdue."

Grayeb spoke at Bradley University after city staff presented plans for reconstructing one of the busiest intersections in Peoria. Last September, a broken water main damaged it.

As previously postulated, based in part on an earlier community forum, the intersection is to feature curb extensions — known as bumpouts — that widen pedestrian crossing areas. Intersection pavement also is to be raised to the height of the curb, about six inches, in an effort to slow traffic.

A push-button mechanism is to stop traffic in all directions for 30 seconds to allow pedestrians to cross.

Raised pavement also is to be installed permanently on quieter streets nearby. Included are two segments on Moss Avenue. The Uplands neighborhood is to feature four — two on North Parkside Drive and one each on Institute Place and Maplewood Avenue.

Bumpouts are to be built at Columbia Terrace and University, although pavement won't be raised, Reeise said. That construction is designed to taper the number of lanes on University to three — one in each direction, with a center turn lane. That configuration is to be in place at least as far south as Moss.

A three-lane Main is planned westward from University to at least Maplewood, according to Reeise.

Initial construction is to begin in late February, with water-main installations, Reeise said. Main-University intersection reopening is expected by May 10.

"April will really make this project, depending on the temperatures and the weather conditions," Reeise said. "Closing an intersection is an easy thing to do. It's training folks on where they need to go when that intersection is closed."

At least five detours are to bypass neighborhoods near the intersection. They route traffic along John H. Gwynn Jr., Nebraska and Western avenues, Farmington and Park roads and Interstate 74, among other thoroughfares.

According to city officials, the permanent goal is to redirect traffic that cuts through the neighborhoods on the way to Downtown and elsewhere. That and other pedestrian-friendly aspects of the $2.6 million project appear to please Nick Mitchell, who lives a few blocks from Main and University.

"It's an exciting area to live in, and there's a lot that Main Street has to offer and walk to," Mitchell said. "But having this intersection feeling more like a highway leaves the residents often disconnected from that."

Page 2 of 2 - Nick Vlahos can be reachedat 686-3285 or nvlahos@pjstar.com.Follow him on Twitter @VlahosNick.